Friday, August 07, 2009

Kilt Worthy - Catherine Bybee



Today I'm very excited to welcome my lovely friend Catherine Bybee, who is celebrating the release of her debut story, Kilt Worthy, a Scarlet Rose from The Wild Rose Press!



Thanks for having me today, Christina.

You're very welcome, Catherine. Can you tell us a little about your book?


Yeah, I could, but then would you buy it? I mean, if I went on and on about how there’s this woman named Jane who has about as much self esteem as a piss-ant… okay, she has more self esteem then a piss-ant, but not much. If I went on and on and explained that on her way across town to capture a stellar picture to enhance her portfolio she stumbled on a hottie wearing a kilt and a smile who offered a wonderfully scandalous erotic night she tosses caution to the wind as says “What the F#@k!” and runs off with him. If I told you all that would you want to read more? Okay, watch my trailer and that will tell ya what you want to know.




You want a sample? (Christina: Yes please!) Geeze, Christina… you ask for sooo much! Grin

Excerpt:

Dragging my gaze up to his, I swear he could read my thoughts yet again. His cocky grin grew larger when my eyes traveled back down his hard torso and I saw a twitch beneath his kilt. A really big twitch.

I dug in my heels, shook my head and started to back away. “Maybe this is a mistake.”

His hand reached out and caressed my cheek, his eyes glued to mine. One more step back and the brick building stopped my retreat. Mr. Kilt leaned in. Heat, mixed with his strong male scent, surrounded my quivering body. His other hand came up and rested on the wall behind me.

Boxed in, I watched his lips move, his breath quicken and something that looked like concern stream from his eyes. Every nerve in my body called out, wanting his touch. I forgot about the alley as my attention narrowed to him and the rapidly shrinking space between us.


Phew! Steamy. How did the idea for the plot come about?


This is such an easy question. I was bored! Really bored, and I asked one of my CP’s to send me inspiration to write something. She sent a picture… this one ---- And said the words “Moment in Time”

I started writing and when I looked up, Kilt Worthy was born. Four days later, I sent it to Aithne to critique and within a week sent it to The Wild Rose Press.


Wow! I'm not surprised you were inspired!!! I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?


Do you have a year? Seriously… this road is long and hard!

Okay… you read my above answer, right? When I’m bored I write. When I’m happy I write!


When I decided to submit my upcoming full-length novel, Binding Vows, I had a lot of waiting to do. Several revisions etc. In that time, I wrote six more books… no, make that seven. Kilt Worthy was number Seven. I subbed four of these books and WHAM… three contracts in eight days… the forth to follow one month later. One minute I thought I wasn’t talented and didn’t think I’d ever get published then WHAMO… contract after contract.

There is more to the story, of course, but hey… I’ve got three more books coming out this year. Gotta save something for later, right?


I totally remember when that happened, Catherine! It was crazy, but a great crazy. Do you write every day? Do you give yourself daily/weekly goals?


Yes, but not always in my books. If I’m not writing romance I’m writing blogs, tweeting, facebooking ( if that’s what you call it) looping. I write reviews for Affair de Coeur under an assumed name. LOL. ANOTHER ASSUMED NAME. So yeah, I write all the time.


Do I have writing goals? Yes and no. When a plot is thick in my head, I’m like a mad woman to get to my computer and get all my ideas down. If I’m in-between projects or waiting on edits or some such thing, I give myself some slack, or write something short. I do think writers need to write as much as possible. When I’m writing a full length novel I want to get down several K a week, otherwise I feel like I’m slacking.


Panster or plotter?


Pantser… but I’m trying the other side. I’m told that some of those big NY houses like a plot so I’m playing with plots. In the end, I’m a panster!


So what keeps you motivated when the writing gets tough?


Ohh, this is two questions really. When the publication road is hard, you push through and keep on truckin’. NEVER GIVE UP!


If the story isn’t working out the way you want it, then your characters are acting out of character. I suppose you have to be a writer to know what that means, but I’m not one to believe in ‘writers block’. Your CHARACTERS are blocked. They aren’t acting like themselves and the writer (me) is messing with their heads.


Is there any advice or light bulb moment you'd like to share about getting/being published?


Certainly when I received my first contract that moment occurred. But I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. At least not the publishing light bulb. Now, the writer light bulb went on during my quest for an agent. Those first couple of rejections bit big time, but then I received a request for a partial and a full and wow!!! I was jacked! Someone in the literary world wanted, WANTED, to read what I wrote. Needless to say, ultimately my book was rejected, but by then my confidence elevated and really had me stoked to do this whole publishing thing!


Do you have critique partners (CPs)? If so can you tell us how you met up and your process?


LOL. Do I have CP’s? Not only do I have CP’s but I also started up an entire loop dedicated to CP’s. And I help moderate over at Coffee Time Romance with their critique groups. I have two video blogs dedicated to this subject so feel free to stop by my youtube page and view them. http://www.youtube.com/user/CatherineBybee

Critique partners are a must have. I met Aithne Jarretta on myspace and then met Angel Martinez via my critique group. Then there is Kaye Manro and Nancy O’Berry who’ve also helped. There are others of course, but these ladies have seen entire manuscripts of mine and helped me in so many ways.


Ever writer, published or not, can help in some way. Even the greenest author will see something you didn’t.


That's so true, I'd be completely lost without my CPs! What are you working on now?


I’m working on two things… No, make that three. *can you say multitask?* I’m working on the third book in my time travel trilogy. I’m working on another erotic story titled “Batteries Not Included” I’ll let your mind consider the title and therefore content. LOL. And I’m trying that whole plotting thing for a new paranormal series I’d like to pitch to Harlequin. So, I’m busy. Ohhhh and my boys are out of school, so I’m “working” on not pulling my hair out until they are back in the school room. LOL

You can keep up with all my antics on the web all over cyberspace.

www.catherinebybee.com

http://thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php

https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1484747649&ref=profile

http://www.myspace.com/catherinebybee

http://catherinebybee.blogspot.com/

I’m also on Manic Readers, Goodreads, Amazon, Coffee Time Romance and more… Feel free to friend me, tweet me, tag me. LOL.

Thanks for having me here today, Christina. It’s fun to skip across cyberspace and visit the land Down Under!



29 comments:

Christina Phillips said...

LOL. I hope everyone enjoyed that double YouTube treat!!! Blogger is being a very strange bugger lately. Or maybe it's just me...?

Kaye Manro said...

Great interview, Chirstina! and Catherine your humor is always so much fun. Good luck, with the release of Kilt Worthy to day, friend.

Catherine Bybee said...

Thanks for having me, Christina.

Kaye: I amuse myself all the time. lol

Eliza Knight said...

Fabulous interview! Steamy excerpt! I've been waiting for this one for a long time, so I am so excited its here!! Congrats on the release, I'm going to get mine right now :)

HUGS!
Eliza

Ilona Fridl said...

Catherine,
Revel in your first release! I just had mine last week. the feeling is awesome. Your book sounds HOT! I had to get the fan for the excerpt.

April Vine said...

Hey Christina and Catherine : )

Excellent interview, Christina and Catherine. So much fun!!!
I wish you oodles of success and good luck with your future projects, Catherine.
I'm off to get my share of Kilt Worthy : )

Emma Lai said...

Fun interview, ladies! Catherine...love the title "Batteries Not Included" for an erotic romance! Wishing you good sales!

Sarah Simas said...

Hi Christina and Catherine!

Wonderful interview. I loved the questions and awesome trailer. The graphics were beautiful.

Catherine, I loved your sense of humor. As an aspiring writer, I've found that humor is definitely a requirement! LOL Congrats on the release!

Beautiful site, Christina. I bookmarked it into my Favs!!

Helen Hardt said...

Happy release day! I'm so excited to read this!

Donna Marie Rogers said...

Happy Release Day, Catherine! What a sexy kilt-wearing man! ;-) It sounds wondefully hot...wishing you many sales!

Mary Ricksen said...

I loved the trailer, that's the first time I'd seen it.
Batteries Not Included, just great I love it!

Susan Macatee said...

Steamy scene and great advice, Catherine! It's the true that you have to persevere to get anywhere in this business.

Best of luck with Kilt Worthy! Sounds like a sizzling story!

Cate Masters said...

Congrats on your release, Catherine! Kilt Worthy looks like a great read - yummy cover! And great trailer too.

Debra St. John said...

Hi Catherine! Congrats on your release. All I can say is, um, WOW, fabulous cover. And it's always nice to meet a fellow pantster.

Mona Risk said...

Catherine your hero is a HERO!!! Yeah. I think I need a trip to Scotland for inspiration. Can you really see the twitch of the kilt when hum...

Congratulations!!!

Catherine Bybee said...

Yeah... I'm back up and able to comment. Damn hackers kept me at bay all darn day. *grumble.

Eliza: I can't wait for your critique. One of your kilted lad's is plugged at the end of Kilt Worthy. So yeah us. lol

Llona: If that had you looking for a fan then you might need a lil' air conditioning for the entire story. lol Enjoy.

Catherine Bybee said...

April: I'm in good company with all of you scarlet authors. I hope you enjoy Logan and Jane.

Emma: It is a fun title. I have a rough draft I'm kicking around now. Hope to update you all on that soon.

Sarah: Thanks bunches. I laugh a lot and put as much humor into my books as possible without being outright chic-lit. I love chic-lit, but don't think I can take the humor that far. I do love that trailer. It's one of my favorite that I've done. xo

Catherine Bybee said...

Helen: Thanks, m'dear. I look forward to our chat on Monday.

Donna: Sexy in it, out of it! Whatever!!!

Mary: Really, the first time? Seems like I blasted the net before I won 'best trailer' from You Gotta Read Video Award.

Catherine Bybee said...

Cate: Thank you! It's been a great day...

Debra: Seems most writers go by the seat of their pants. LOL Nice meeting you, too.

Mona: Oh hon... in my mind I do more than see. lol Enjoy.

Cari Quinn said...

Terrific interview, Christina and Catherine! :)

Woohoo! Happy release day, Catherine! I'm firing up my ereader as I type... ;)

Catherine Bybee said...

You are everywhere! lol Enjoy.

Aithne Jarretta said...

Hi Catherine,

Congratulations on your KILT WORTHY release. I was away all day yesterday although I enjoyed your interview today. ;o) Ain't the Internet grand? (oops, a crit partner isn't supposed to use 'ain't' lol)

Catherine Bybee said...

Thanks for the picture, Aithne! And all your support.

Becca Simone said...

What an exciting time for you! Thanks for the great interview, ladies. I love reading success stories, and Catherine--yours is definitely one of those.

:)Becky

Catherine Bybee said...

Thanks Becky.

Shelley Munro said...

LOL so you're a pantser, Catherine?
All the best with Kilt Worthy. It sounds great.

Catherine Bybee said...

I am, Shelley. Makes it hard to plot. I'm trying but not getting far with it. lol

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your release,Kilt Worthy looks like a great read - nice cover! And great trailer too.


___________________
Andrew
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Catherine Bybee said...

Thanks, Andrew. The cover is awesome!